[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13418-13420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5679]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-3246-N]
Medicare Program; Meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development
and Coverage Advisory Committee, May 11, 2011
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces that a public meeting of the Medicare
Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC)
(``Committee''). The Committee generally provides advice and
recommendations concerning the adequacy of scientific evidence needed
to determine whether certain medical items and services can be covered
under the Medicare statute. This meeting will focus on the currently
available evidence regarding the outcomes associated with the use of
unilateral and bilateral cochlear implant technology for hearing loss.
This meeting is open to the public in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)).
DATES: Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May
11, 2011 from 7:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., eastern daylight time
(e.d.t.).
Deadline for Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must
be received at the address specified in the ADDRESSES section of this
notice by 5 p.m. e.d.t., Monday, April 11, 2011. Once submitted, all
comments are final.
Deadlines for Speaker Registration and Presentation Materials: The
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deadline to register to be a speaker and to submit power point
presentation materials and writings that will be used in support of an
oral presentation, is 5 p.m., e.d.t. on Monday, April 11, 2011.
Speakers may register by phone or via e-mail by contacting the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
Presentation materials must be received at the address specified in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Deadline for All Other Attendees Registration: To attend the
meeting in person, individuals may register online at http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/ or by phone by contacting the person listed in
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by 5 p.m.
e.d.t, Friday, May 6, 2011. We will be broadcasting the meeting via
Webinar. To attend via Webinar, you must register at https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/cochlearimplant/event/registration.html by 5 p.m.
e.d.t, Friday, May 6, 2011.
Deadline for Submitting a Request for Special Accommodations:
Persons attending the meeting who are hearing or visually impaired, or
have a condition that requires special assistance or accommodations,
are asked to contact the Executive Secretary as specified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice no later than 5
p.m., e.d.t. Friday, April 29, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Meeting Location: The meeting will be held in the main
auditorium of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244.
Submission of Presentations and Comments: Presentation materials
and written comments that will be presented at the meeting must be
submitted via e-mail to [email protected] or by regular
mail to the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section of this notice by the date specified in the DATES section of
this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Ellis, Executive Secretary for
MEDCAC, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of Clinical
Standards and Quality, Coverage and Analysis Group, S3-02-01, 7500
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244 or contact Ms. Ellis by phone
(410-786-0309) or via e-mail at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
MEDCAC, formerly known as the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee
(MCAC), provides advice and recommendations to CMS regarding clinical
issues. (For more information on MCAC, see the December 14, 1998
Federal Register (63 FR 68780).) This notice announces the May 11, 2011
public meeting of the Committee. During this meeting, the Committee
will discuss the currently available evidence regarding the outcomes
associated with the use of unilateral and bilateral cochlear implant
technology for hearing loss. Background information about this topic,
including panel materials, is available at http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&.
CMS will no longer be providing paper copies of the handouts for the
meeting. Electronic copies of all the meeting materials will be on the
CMS Web site no later than 2 business days before the meeting. We
encourage the participation of appropriate organizations with expertise
in the use of cochlear implant technology for hearing loss.
II. Meeting Format
This meeting is open to the public. The Committee will hear oral
presentations from the public for approximately 45 minutes. Time
allotted for each presentation may be limited. If the number of
registrants requesting to speak is greater than can be reasonably
accommodated during the scheduled open public hearing session, CMS may
conduct a lottery to determine the speakers for the scheduled open
public hearing session. The contact person will notify interested
persons regarding their request to speak by April 15, 2011. Your
comments should focus on issues specific to the list of topics that we
have proposed to the Committee. The list of research topics to be
discussed at the meeting will be available on the following Web site
prior to the meeting: http://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/indexes/medcac-meetings-index.aspx?bc=BAAAAAAAAAAA&. We require that
you declare at the meeting whether you have any financial involvement
with manufacturers (or their competitors) of any items or services
being discussed.
The Committee will deliberate openly on the topics under
consideration. Interested persons may observe the deliberations, but
the Committee will not hear further comments during this time except at
the request of the chairperson. The Committee will also allow a 15-
minute unscheduled open public session for any attendee to address
issues specific to the topics under consideration. At the conclusion of
the day, the members will vote and the Committee will make its
recommendation(s) to CMS.
III. Registration Instructions
CMS' Coverage and Analysis Group is coordinating meeting
registration. While there is no registration fee, individuals must
register to attend. To attend in person, you may register online at
http://www.cms.gov/apps/events/ or by phone by contacting the person
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice by
the deadline listed in the DATES section of this notice. Please provide
your full name (as it appears on your state-issued driver's license),
address, organization, telephone, fax number(s), and e-mail address.
You will receive a registration confirmation with instructions for your
arrival at the CMS complex or you will be notified the seating capacity
has been reached. To attend via Webinar, you must register for the
Webinar portion of the meeting at https://webinar.cms.hhs.gov/cochlearimplant/event/registration.html by the deadline listed in the
DATES section of this notice.
IV. Security, Building, and Parking Guidelines
This meeting will be held in a Federal government building;
therefore, Federal security measures are applicable. We recommend that
confirmed registrants arrive reasonably early, but no earlier than 45
minutes prior to the start of the meeting, to allow additional time to
clear security. Security measures include the following:
Presentation of government-issued photographic
identification to the Federal Protective Service or Guard Service
personnel.
Inspection of vehicle's interior and exterior (this
includes engine and trunk inspection) at the entrance to the grounds.
Parking permits and instructions will be issued after the vehicle
inspection.
Inspection, via metal detector or other applicable means
of all persons brought entering the building. We note that all items
brought into CMS, whether personal or for the purpose of presentation
or to support a presentation, are subject to inspection. We cannot
assume responsibility for coordinating the receipt, transfer,
transport, storage, set-up, safety, or timely arrival of any personal
belongings or items used for presentation or to support a presentation.
Note: Individuals who are not registered in advance will not be
permitted to enter the building and will be unable to attend the
meeting. The public may not enter the building earlier than 45
minutes prior to the
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convening of the meeting. All visitors must be escorted in areas
other than the lower and first floor levels in the Central Building.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a).
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: March 7, 2011.
Dennis Wagner,
Acting Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services.
[FR Doc. 2011-5679 Filed 3-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P